Auburn men’s basketball was already a heavy favorite in its Saturday afternoon matchup with South Carolina, and the game just got tougher for the Gamecocks.
Starting point guard Jamarii Thomas was ruled out on Friday night’s Southeastern Conference availability report, a sizable blow to South Carolina’s offense. Thomas is averaging 12.3 points and 3.3 assists per game this season, leading the team in the latter category. Thomas also leads the team in minutes per game, averaging 31.1.
His absence is due to a knee sprain suffered in practice, according to a release from the university Friday evening. When previewing the game during his Thursday news conference, Bruce Pearl said he was “really impressed” with Thomas.
Thomas and senior guard Myles Stute were the two players listed as out on Friday’s report and forward Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk was listed as probable.
No Auburn players were listed on the availability report, meaning the Tigers will have all of their players available for Saturday’s game.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m
Read MoreQuarterback Jalen Hurts said he’d never had a concussion until the Philadelphia Eagles’ second possession of their NFL game against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 22.
After a 13-yard run, Hurts was sent off the field. Checked in the sideline medical tent, Hurts came out and put his helmet on, standing ready to go back into the game until the Eagles’ medical staff took him to the locker room. He hasn’t played since.
But on Friday, Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni said Hurts had completed the NFL’s return-to-participation protocol for players with head injuries, which will allow the former Alabama signal-caller to return to the lineup for Sunday’s first-round game of the NFC playoffs against the Green Bay Packers.
“I’m thankful that the refs and everyone did what they were supposed to do in that time,” Hurts said. “They made the right decision in that moment, and I’m thankful and blessed for that, and now I’m ready to go.”
Hurts returned to practice this week on a limited basis on Wednesday and as a full participant on Thursday and Friday.
“He’s had a good week of practice – a really good week,” Sirianni said on Friday. “… I just feel like he’s had a good week of practice and a good week of preparation and is ready to roll.”
Hurts missed the Eagles’ 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 29 and 20-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday as Philadelphia used Kenny Pickett and Tanner McKee at quarterback.
“Just obviously being out of routine,” Hurts said about his almost three weeks in the concussion protocol. “You go through a routine every day, and being out of that is challenging. Obviously, dealing with different symptoms ain’t fun either.”
On Friday, Hurts described his condition more than once as “ready to go.”
“It’s been fun,” Hurts said of his return. “It’s been fun being around the guys. It’s really the main thing there. You know, this team, these guys are a big part of my routine, just being around them and talking ball and getting better, so it’s been fun. It’s been a great week.”
The Eagles played the Packers in the first week of the 2024 season in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Hurts completed 20-of-34 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and ran for 33 yards on 13 carries in Philadelphia’s 34-29 victory over Green Bay on Sept. 6.
“This is a team that I feel like you played so long ago in its own little season in Brazil,” Hurts said. “The reality is we’ve seen how we’ve evolved and we’ve progressed over the year. And so I think in all three phases we’re a whole different team. You know, we’re not the same team that they saw in Brazil. In terms of how efficient we’ve been in the run, how deadly (running back) Saquon (Barkley) has been and how we’ve been able to play really good defense.
“And so, you know, it’ll be a great challenge for us seeing a different team, if you will, but also them seeing a different team as well. And we got to go out there and compete and play good ball.”
The Packers and Eagles kick off at 3:30 p.m. CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. FOX will televise the game.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Read MoreA 34-year-old man died after he was shot early Friday morning in Tuskegee, according to the Macon County coroner.
The shooting occurred around 3 a.m. Friday near Water Street, said Macon County Coroner Hal E. Bentley.
Bentley identified the victim as Leron Holmes, 34.
Holmes was from Tuskegee, the coroner said.
Further information was unavailable.
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The National Weather Service warned on Friday evening that a winter mix could still cause dangerous road conditions and an increased risk for power outages for parts of north Alabama.
The weather service continued to stress that driving would be hazardous for north and central Alabama, especially as temperatures drop overnight and any leftover moisture on roadways freezes.
Winter storm warnings will remain in effect through tonight for parts of central Alabama. North Alabama will be under a winter storm warning until Saturday morning.
The weather service expects temperatures in north and north-central Alabama to fall below freezing overnight.
That could lead to potential black ice on roadways (see tonight’s expected low temperatures at the top of this post).
See also: How much snow fell in Alabama on Friday
Forecasters expect Saturday to be mostly to partly cloudy and very chilly.
High temperatures will be quite chilly in Alabama on Saturday.NWS
Unfortunately, cold temperatures are expected to hang around into next week, according to the weather service.
Saturday night into Sunday morning will be particularly cold, with lows in the teens possible again in north Alabama and 20s expected far into south Alabama.
Here are the low temperatures expected Saturday night-Sunday morning.NWS
Temperatures are expected to rise on Sunday, with some places in south Alabama getting close to 60 degrees. Here are the forecast highs for Sunday:
Sunday will feel a good bit warmer for parts of Alabama.NWS
Some rain will be possible for parts of south Alabama starting on Sunday night and lasting into Monday morning.
The weather service is thinking that it will be above freezing and no winter precipitation problems are expected.
Areas that are the most likely to get precipitation are expected to be above freezing from Sunday night into Monday morning. Here are the expected lows.NWS
This is the probability of precipitation forecast from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday.NWS
The weather service expects very cold temperatures will be likely through the upcoming week, forecasters said.
High temperatures will range from the 30s and 40s in north Alabama to the 50s in south Alabama through Thursday.
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Low temperatures will fall back into the teens on several nights for areas in north Alabama, according to weather service forecasts.
Forecasters warned that cold weather advisories, issued when wind chills are expected to be particularly low, could be possible several nights next week.
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Nick Saban didn’t know it was coming. The former Alabama football head coach was working Friday evening ahead of the College Football Playoff’s Cotton Bowl semifinal, in his job as an analyst for ESPN’s College Gameday.
His teammates on the show were aware of Saban’s selection as a part of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class. The man who won six national championships in Tuscaloosa was not.
“When did that happen?” Saban asked after Rece Davis informed him of the news, a year to the day after his retirement as coach. “I didn’t know anything about that.”
The former coach grinned and shook hands with his ESPN coworkers. Pat McAfee passed him a football recognizing the accomplishment.
Saban then made a brief speech, deflecting the accolades, as was his custom throughout his career.
“Thank you so much,” Saban said. “But anytime anything like this happens, it’s because you had a lot of great people in your organization. A lot of great players, lot of great coaches, lot of support staff, and they made a great team. And I was happy to drive the bus, but we had some great people on it, so thank you so much.”
According to the National Football Foundation, the rest of the hall of fame class will be announced Jan. 15. Saban and his fellow 2025 class members will be inducted Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
Read MoreNick Saban retired on Jan. 10, 2024.
Fast forward one year to Jan. 10, 2025, and the legendary Alabama football coach learned he will be part of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame induction class.
Saban found out while taking part in the College GameDay broadcast on ESPN before the Cotton Bowl. Saban won seven national championships in his coaching career, six with Alabama football.
“Anytime anything like this happens, it’s because you had a lot of great people in your organization,” Saban said on ESPN. “A lot of great players, a lot of great coaches. A lot of support staff. And they made a great team. I was happy to drive the bus but we had some great people on it.”
No coach has won more national championships than Saban in the history of college football. That alone made him an obvious candidate for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Then add his other accolades: Over 28 seasons, Saban finished with a 297-71-1 record as a head coach. His teams at Alabama and LSU combined for 11 SEC championships, with nine at Alabama.
Saban had four Heisman Trophy winners. He produced 52 first-round NFL Draft selections, developing 47 of them at Alabama.
Saban’s half century in coaching also included stops at Toledo and Michigan State. He spent 17 years with Alabama, five with LSU, five with Michigan State and one with Toledo.
Saban and other inductees, who will be announced at a later time, will all be honored Dec. 9, 2025 in Las Vegas. Saban is also expected to be honored on campus during the fall.
“A well-deserved honor for one of the greatest coaches of all time, in any sport,” Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne posted to X. “Congratulations, Coach Saban!”
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
Read MoreFeathers were ruffled in Alabama this week as chickens throughout much of the state were faced with a winter wonderland.
On Friday, a deluge of photos on social media showed dogs and kids joyfully romping in the white stuff, after up to 7 inches of snow and sleet fell in North Alabama, and other areas received about 1-2 inches. For folks who own chickens, however, it was an entirely different story.
RELATED: Alabama wakes up to snow: Your winter weather pictures and video
Members of the Facebook group BYC (BackYard Chickens) reported clucking, fussing and outright refusal to leave the coop in Alabama, as unhappy birds showed their displeasure with Mother Nature. (See photos of the finicky chickens in the gallery at the top of this post.)
“I don’t think they like the snow,” lamented Brittany Erin Cornwell, a chicken mom in Cullman, sharing a photo of several chickens turning up their beaks at the snow and stubbornly staying under cover.
Chickens owned by Brittany Erin Cornwell were suspicious of snowfall in Cullman, Alabama, on Jan, 10, 2025.(Photo courtesy of Brittany Erin Cornwell)
Other Alabama people in the group — about 1.3 million members strong — agreed. More than 225 comments were posted in response to Cornwell’s photo Friday, and many included photos of disgruntled chickens in Jasper, Scottsboro, Arab, New Market, Cordova, Adger, Huntsville, Rogersville and more.
“Mine won’t come out of the coop and are squawking,” said Melissa Estes of Homewood.
“Mine said nope,” confirmed Amber Willenbrock of Gardendale.
“Same. Vernon Alabama here,” said Hope Franklin-Moore. “Had to rescue a rooster who flew out and just didn’t know how to walk in the snow. So he just laid there.”
“Mine are all lined up behind the coop,” said Sierra Kirkwood of New Market.
Sierra Kirkwood of New Market said her chickens lined up behind the coop and showed a united front, distrustful of the snow on Jan. 10, 2025.(Courtesy of Sierra Kirkwood)
“Mine were not a fan. They usually run me over to get out in the mornings,” said Kayla Howard of Talladega.
“I’m in Huntsville AL and my crew would not come outside,” said Brittany Hillis. “My roo did but the ladies were all just shoving their heads past one another to look outside and they quickly decided against coming out, I even raked snow away from and area for them.”
“I’m in Tuscaloosa and my chickens won’t leave the coop!” chimed in Anna Grace Nelson. “They don’t even know what this white stuff is.”
“Alabaster checking in,” said Sarah Phaedre Browning. “Mine are hiding inside or under their coop.”
“All my girls are trying to find higher ground,” said Beth Wynn of @bonnyoaksfarmstead in Adger. “They are NOT a fan.”
“All my girls are trying to find higher ground,” said Beth Wynn of @bonnyoaksfarmstead in Adger. “They are NOT a fan.” Snowfall vexed many chickens in Alabama, according to their owners, on Jan. 10, 2025.(Courtesy of Beth Winn, @bonnyoaksfarmstead))
“Remlap, AL and my chickens say it’s too cold for that stuff on my feet,” said Londa Harris.
“Mine neither! Only 1 to come outta coop this morning was my stupid young rooster, outskirts Haleyville, AL,” said Michelle Peterson.
“I’m near Sylacauga and my roosters haven’t crowed once today, guess it’s too cold for all that malarkey,” said Stacy Lynn Lasko.
“Winston county AL. They said ‘Immediately No,’” confirmed Andrea Crisp.
“My girls were pissed lol,” said Brandy White Liverett of Haleyville.
Caitlin Parsons of Scottsboro said her chickens were outliers, of sorts, venturing into the snow on Jan. 10, 2025.(Courtesy of Caitlin Parsons)
Although a few chicken owners in Alabama noted that flock members bravely ventured out to hunt and peck, none of the birds seemed ready to hop on a sled or go snowboarding. (“Mine decided to be adventurous,” said Caitlin Parsons of Scottsboro.)
But even if the birds were displeased, chicken owners in Alabama seemed ready to grin and bear it. Members of the BYC group adore their chickens, as a rule, and some regard them as family members.
Alabama chickens won’t have long to wait before the snow melts, lessens and disappears. According to the National Weather Service, rising temperatures will likely transform the snow into a wintry mix, freezing rain and/or plain old rain throughout much of the state.
Slick and hazardous road conditions are expected to continue through Saturday morning as temperatures fall below freezing on Friday night, the weather service said. That’s a problem for chicken owners, however, and shouldn’t faze the persnickety birds in their backyards.
“We’ll just stay in the coop, OK”? If chickens owned by Terry McCormick could talk, that’s probably what they’d say. The birds faced snow in Alabama on Jan. 10, 2025.(Courtesy of Terry McCormick)
The US online sweepstakes industry continues to grow bigger every month. It’s now 2025 and fans of casino gaming have access to a huge number of online sweepstakes casinos.
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A screenshot of the Buffalo King slot game.McLuck Casino
Best place to play right now: McLuck Casino
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Read MoreA manufacturing company plans to shut down its auto parts plant in Alabama by March, according to a notice filed with the state.
Nitto Inc. will lay off 56 employees as its manufacturing facility in Jasper closes, the company said in a WARN notice published this week by the Alabama Department of Commerce. The plant will close by March 7, the notice said.
The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Nitto Inc. is the American subsidiary of Japanese company Nitto Denko Corporation. The Jasper plant, a 53,000 square-foot manufacturing facility that’s operated since 2003, is in the city’s Bevill Industrial Park, according to its website. The Jasper Industrial Development Board lists the company as the city’s ninth largest employer.
Green Suttles, executive director for the Jasper Industrial Development Board, said that the company offered severance to employees and is working with the board to connect employees with the local career center.
“Nitto Denko has treated their people spectacularly in my opinion,” he said in an interview with AL.com. “I was very pleased with the company working hard to communicate with their people.”
Suttles said the company informed the city that the shutdown was happening because the company is consolidating its southern auto plants into one location in Kentucky. Nitto is also closing its Ohio plant and laying off most of its employees there.
“That’s their business,” Suttles said. “That’s what they’re doing, but everybody but Kentucky lost.”
Suttles said that Bevill State Community College is already in talks to buy the site from Nitto, and plans to turn it into a training center as part of a plan with Alabama Power to create the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Training Center and Network in the industrial park, expanding on its HVAC workforce development program.
AL.com has reached out to Bevill State for comment.
“It’s my understanding that that’s going forward,” he said. “I hate losing the 50 jobs, and I hate losing the industrial building, as Alabama needs more industrial space. But I’m getting a whole lot more out of the deal.”
Suttles added that many of Jasper’s Nitto employees already have new jobs lined up.
“Jasper is going to absorb virtually all the people that are being displaced,” Suttles said. “I’m extremely optimistic. It’s not going to be a bloodbath at all. And at the end of the day, when the dust settles, we’re going to be a lot better off.”
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